95yearold organist not pushing in the stops yet
A 95YEAROLD church organist who has played at St Michael’s Anglican Church in South Dunedin for 63 years says, despite health problems, she has no plans to give up.
Andersons Bay woman Barbara Gillies had been pondering whether to retire this month, due to unexplained pain in her arm, but has decided to carry on for as long as she can.
Authorised lay minister at the church David Horne said her six decades as an organist was quite an achievement.
‘‘She will stay as long as she can,’’ he said. The church was pleased she had not had to give up ‘‘and so is she’’, Mr Horne said.
A former singer and teacher for 28 years at Musselburgh School, Mrs Gillies first began playing at the church when it had a choir, which she directed.
Trained to play the piano as a child, she said playing the organ was challenging at first, but she loved it now.
‘‘I love accompanying the singers.’’
She had seen many changes over the six decades and enjoyed playing a variety of hymns.
‘‘I hope I can play for quite a while yet.’’
Mrs Gillies said she played every Monday at the 10am service for a small but loyal congregation, plus a service on Wednesday mornings.
Her whole family had been involved in the church. Her daughter sang in the choir and taught Sunday School.
‘‘It’s a very friendly congregation. They are very nice people,’’ Mrs Gillies said